Monday, September 26, 2016

Today in Soap Opera History (September 26)

1986: Bobby was alive and well on Dallas; his death was a dream.
1994: All My Children's Erica visited her mother's grave.
1995: Another World's Grant shot his brother, Ryan, in the back.
1997: Days of our Lives recast the role of Jack...in a shower.

"More and more, I tend to read history. I often find it more up to date than the daily newspapers."
― Joe Murray

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1938: Radio soap opera Houseboat Hannah premiered on the NBC Red Network. Hard working Dan O'Leary, who lost an arm in a factory accident, moved his financially strapped family aboard a house boat in Shanty Fish Row on San Francisco Bay. Resourceful and resolute Hannah O'Leary became a mother figure to most of the Row. The theme song for Houseboat Hannah was Harry Revel and Mack Gordo's "Laugh Your Way Through Life."

1979: On As the World Turns, John Dixon (Larry Bryggman) told David Stewart (Henderson Forsythe) he thought his ex-wife, Kim (Kathryn Hays), was falling apart inside after Dan's death.

1986: Actor Hugh Franklin died at age 70. His soap roles included Charles Tyler Sr. in All My Children, Ralph Brown in As the World Turns, Ed Bridgeman in Love of Life, Fred McNeill in Young Doctor Malone and Richard Garner in Dark Shadows.

1986: On Another World, Marley Love (Ellen Wheeler) prepared to walk down the aisle in her wedding to Jake McKinnon (Tom Eplin). Laurence Lau debuted in this episode as Jamie Frame, who was now a doctor.

1986: As the 10th season of Dallas kicked off, Pam Ewing (Victoria Principal) got out of bed and went to the shower, where she found her husband, Bobby (Patrick Duffy), very much alive. It turned out everything that happened in the previous year was just Pam's dream. Below is the cliffhanger from the previous season.

1993: Actor Biff Warren died at age 37. He played Mark Lewis in As the World Turns.

1995: On Another World, Justine (Victoria Wyndham) shoved Rachel (Victoria Wyndham) off the train trestle. As Ryan (Paul Michael Valley) held Justine at gunpoint, Grant (Mark Pinter) pulled out his own gun and shot Ryan (Paul Michael Valley) in the back.

1997: On Days of our Lives, Jack Deveraux, played by Mark Valley, started taking a shower. By the time Jack was finished with the show the role was being played by Steve Wilder.

2000: Actor Richard Mulligan, who played Burt Campbell in Soap, died at age 67.

2006:Inturn winner Alex Charak made his debut on As the World Turns as Elwood Hoffman.

2010: Titanic actress Gloria Stuart died at age 100. She played Catherine in General Hospital.

2011: On EastEnders, Zainab (Nina Wadia) optimistically believed her estranged husband's visit was a sign that Masood (Nitin Ganatra) was prepared to reconcile with her, when instead, he'd come to tell her of his decision that they should divorce by reciting the Muslim ritual of the "triple talaq."

Thanks to FoxCrane for sending in the item above.

2011: Deidre Hall, Drake Hogestyn, Patrick Muldoon and Christie Clark returned to Days of our Lives as Marlena, John, Austin and Carrie.